Disclaimer: Nothing in this fic, whether Wonderland-related or anything alluded to, is mine. I mean, I own the idea for these thousand words, but that's it. Also, I own the intense desire to hear Johnny Depp say that line...

A Brief Author's Note: Number 4 in the LJ 10_prompts community's Table 11 and my personal favorite of these Baby Grands so far! If any of you would like to draw this out for me, I'll write a Baby Grand on the subject of your choosing.

4 - Hold Your Breath

He had become quite secretive, spending most of the time shut up in his room, with only his occasional raving to announce his presence there. A few hours turned into days, which turned into whole weeks. Alice tried with increasing frustration to figure out what went on behind that door – twisting the knob, she found it locked, and banging on said door just caused the knob to swear at her. Asking Queen Mirana gained only maddeningly inconclusive answers. Most individuals questioned simply insisted the Hatter tended to go on like this once in a while.

"Perhaps he has found himself a difficult project?" suggested the White Queen, in that sweet, beautiful, and altogether irritating tone that suggested she knew everything. "More intricate than any of us might guess!"

All right – enough is enough, thought Alice. He had been shut up in there for a month and, by any means necessary, she set her sights on getting to the bottom of it. She had gone more bonkers in the past month than one ought reasonably to go, even by the standards of Underland! What in the Queen's name had he got going in there that had to be such a bloody secret? Having worked herself into a decent froth, she stood up from her chair in the library and charged out the heavy door.

"Were you raised in a barn!?" the door called after her, irritably swinging itself shut.

She even found herself desperate enough to try wrenching something bordering on a reasonable answer from Thackery. Opening the door carefully, she waited for the inevitable flying kitchen implement, watching the meat-fork spear itself into the wall before entering. The crazed hare hopped about on a cutting board, fencing an invisible opponent with a large shin bone. When he saw her, the bone went flying and he hid behind a pile of cabbages. Alice tapped her foot and waited patiently for him to wrap up his shenanigans.

"Mr. Earwicket, kindly settle down enough to answer me a question?" she inquired in the serene-est voice she could manage.

"Quills!" he bellowed, peeping over the cabbage to lob an egg at her.

She watched the egg hit the wall, over a splatter that looked like it might have originated from an extremely old artichoke, and rolled her eyes.

"All I wanted to know is why Tarrant has been shut in his room for a month!" she explained, exasperated with him. Settling her tone, she tried again. "Have you any idea what he might be working on?"

Instead of an answer, she heard hysterical giggling and everything but his ears disappeared behind the cabbage. Spinning on her heel, she stormed out of the kitchen, ready to march straight to the Hatter's room and demand some answers. However, her foot caught something large and furry – she heard a yelp.

"Oh Bayard, I do apologize!" she exclaimed.

"No harm done," the Bloodhound replied easily. "I have a message, Alice, from Mr. Hightopp and I suspect it's one you're high overdue for."

Alice growled something unrepeatable under her breath, which the Hound pretended not to notice, and then thanked him. He asked her to follow him, which she did without question. They wound through what had to be most of the White Palace, Bayard's incomparable nose leading the way. After a quarter-hour of walking in companionable silence, they came to a door. It wasn't the Hatter's door, but the Hound insisted they were in the right place.

"Go on in, Alice," he instructed, turning to sniff his way back.

If she didn't know better, she would have thought she saw the same knowing in his eyes that she had seen in Queen Mirana's. Instead of stewing about it, though, she approached the door, a beautiful creation – marble, instead of wood – and reached for the doorknob. For a moment, she hesitated, trying to hear anything that might warn her as to what she would find inside. Of course, the marble blocked out any sound. The moment her hand touched the knob, the door swung slowly open of its own accord.

"Close your eyes," a familiar voice told her.

Her irritation mostly left her, replaced by curiosity – she closed her eyes.

"Hold your breath."

She took a deep, slow breath and held it, her eyes still closed.

"Make a wish."

Not exhaling, she made a wish inside her head and nodded slowly to indicate she had done it. She could hear him moving about the room. Her chest felt mildly tight, but she held her breath.

"Count to three."

One…

Two…

Three…

She counted in her head, nodding on each count - there came a short pause and she felt lightheaded.

"Open your eyes, Alice."

Her breath returned to her in one quick gasp. Before her, on a milliner's display stand, lay his most beautiful piece. A white band barely large enough to be called a hat curved gracefully away from the crown of the head. The finest lace she had ever seen spilled from that band, almost like a frozen waterfall, but somehow softer. She could have sworn she saw diamonds winking at her – looking closer again, she found herself correct!

"Tarrant, this is a wedding veil," she said softly. Her tone changed, though. "Is Queen Mirana getting married?"

He shook his head, his eyes alight.

"It's for you."

Alice's mouth worked silently for a moment, her heart in a knot.

"What need have I for a wedding veil?" she asked, voice shaking.

The shocking orange brows knitted together, the Hatter deep in thought.

"Oh yes!" he cried out, eyes brightening. "How silly of me!"

Alice held her breath unbidden. There he was, Tarrant Hightopp, the Mad Hatter of Underland, dropping to one knee. His hand disappeared into one of many pockets. Triumphant, bandaged fingers held up their prize for a moment – a small, black velvet box. Alice felt herself getting lightheaded again as he opened it, eyes shining. He took a deep breath.

"Alice, will you marry me?"